FIFA Club Licensing Regulations

Transcription

1 FIFA Club Licensing Regulations 2

2 INDEX Article Page Definitions I. General provisions 1 Introduction Objectives of the club licensing system 9 II. FIFA Club Licensing Regulations 2 Procedure Criteria gradation Principle Licensing implementation Principle Implementation at confederation level Existence of a legal basis within the statutes of the confederation Integration of the FIFA Club Licensing Regulations into a confederation club licensing regulations Implementation at national level Existence of a legal basis within the statutes of the member association Rules regarding sanctions under the national club licensing system Integration of the confederation club licensing regulations into a national club licensing regulations Decision on the application of the system to licence applicants Option for the national association to delegate the club licensing system to an affiliated league Bodies of the confederation 14 3 Licensor Introduction Licensor definition Who is the licensor? Decision-making bodies First-instance body (FIB) Appeals body (AB) Decision-making procedure 17 4 Licence applicant and licence Introduction Circle of licence applicants Authority to define licence applicants Definition of licence applicants Principle Licence Principle Extraordinary application of the club licensing system for entering confederation club competitions 22 3

3 4.5.1 Principle Procedure 22 5 Core process Introduction Principle 23 6 Sporting criteria Introduction Objectives Benefits for clubs Criteria A criteria 24 7 Infrastructure criteria Introduction Objectives Benefits for clubs Criteria A criteria B criteria C criteria 29 8 Personnel and administrative criteria Introduction Objectives Benefits for clubs Criteria A criteria B criteria 35 9 Legal criteria Introduction Criteria A criteria Financial criteria Introduction Objectives Benefits Financial criteria 39 III. Final provisions 11 Obligations Spot checks and sanctions by confederations Spot checks and sanctions by FIFA Diverging texts Adoption and enforcement 43 4

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5 DEFINITIONS Accounting policies Annual financial statements Control Core process Criteria Deadline for submission of the application to the licensor Employee benefits Licence Licence applicant Licensee Licensor May Definition The specific principles, bases, conventions, rules and practices adopted by an entity in preparing and presenting its financial statements. A complete set of financial statements prepared as at the statutory closing date, normally including a balance sheet, profit and loss account, a statement of cash flows and those notes, other statements and explanatory material that are an integral part of the financial statements. The power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. Minimum requirements that the licensor must put in place for verification of compliance with the criteria described in these regulations as a basis for the issue of a licence to an applicant. Requirements to be fulfilled by the licence applicant divided into five categories (sporting, infrastructure, personnel and administrative, legal and financial), with each category being split into three grades A-C (mandatory and best practice recommendation). The date by which each licensor requires the licence applicant to have submitted all relevant information for its application for a licence. All forms of consideration given by an entity in exchange for service rendered by employees. Certificate confirming fulfilment of all mandatory minimum requirements by the licensee in order to start the admission procedure for confederation club competitions. Legal entity fully and solely responsible for the football team participating in national and international club competitions that applies for a licence. Licence applicant which has been granted a licence by the licensor. Body that operates the licensing system and grants the licence. Indicates a party s discretion to do something (i.e. optional rather than mandatory). 6

6 Must or shall Indicates an obligation to do something (i.e. mandatory). National club licensing regulations Related party Stadium Working document which describes the national club licensing system in a particular country. It includes all the minimum requirements of the FIFA and confederation licensing system as well as any specific national particularities and objectives. A party is related to an entity if: a) directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, the party: (i) controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the entity (this includes parents, subsidiaries and fellow subsidiaries); (ii) has an interest in the entity that gives it significant influence over the entity; or (iii) has joint control over the entity; b) the party is an associate of the entity; c) the party is a joint venture in which the entity is a venturer; d) the party is a member of the key management personnel of the entity or its parent; e) the party is a close member of the family of any individual referred to in (a) or (d); f) the party is an entity that is controlled, jointly controlled or significantly influenced by, or for which significant voting power in such entity resides with, directly or indirectly, any individual referred to in (d) or (e); or g) the party is a post-employment benefit plan for the benefit of employees of the entity, or of any entity that is a related party of the entity. The venue for a competition match, including, but not limited to, all properties and facilities near to such stadium (for example, offices, hospitality areas, press centres and accreditation centres). 7

7 I. GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1 INTRODUCTION These FIFA Club Licensing Regulations are the basic working document for confederations and member associations that is to be transformed into a national club licensing regulations. These regulations incorporate minimum requirements and guidelines and have been developed according to the principles elaborated by the FIFA Task Force for the Good of the Game. These Club Licensing Regulations are divided into two main sections. The first section addresses the member association as the licensor, explaining its tasks, defining the licence applicant and the licensing bodies as well as the core process to be applied. The second section is directed at the clubs of the member association. The five categories of minimum criteria are described in five chapters, which are as follows: sporting criteria, infrastructure criteria, personnel and administrative criteria, legal criteria and financial criteria. The criteria are divided into three different grades ( A, B and C ). The confederations and member associations are invited to: a) read and understand these Club Licensing Regulations; b) decide if the club licensing system applies to the national context (which divisions or clubs and which criteria); c) take into account national law, statutes and regulations; d) adapt their own structure and relevant organisation according to the minimum requirements regarding the core process and further procedures; e) consider increasing the minimum criteria set in this document and upgrading or adding other criteria according to the specific needs and the existing quality of confederations and domestic competitions; f) set up a working plan for the implementation of the club licensing regulations at confederation and national level. Each national club licensing regulations must be accredited by the relevant confederation. Article 1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE CLUB LICENSING SYSTEM The club licensing system has the following overall objectives in accordance with the decision taken by the FIFA Congress in Munich in 2006: safeguarding the credibility and integrity of club competitions; improving the level of professionalism within the football family; promoting sporting values in accordance with the principles of fair play as well as safe and secure match environments; 8

8 promoting transparency in the finances of clubs; promoting transparency in the ownership of clubs; promoting transparency in the control of clubs. II. FIFA CLUB LICENSING REGULATIONS Article 2 PROCEDURE Article 2.1 CRITERIA GRADATION Article PRINCIPLE Article The criteria described in these FIFA Club Licensing Regulations are graded into three separate categories. Article The different grades have been defined as follows: a) A criteria MUST : If the licence applicant does not fulfil any A criteria, then it cannot be granted a licence to enter confederation/national club competitions; b) B criteria MUST : If the licence applicant does not fulfil any B criteria then it is sanctioned as specified by the licensor but may still receive a licence to enter confederation/national club competitions; c) C criteria BEST PRACTICE : C criteria are best-practice recommendations. Non-fulfilment of any C criteria does not lead to any sanction or to the refusal of the licence. Certain C criteria may become MUST criteria at a later stage. Article 2.2 LICENSING IMPLEMENTATION Article Article PRINCIPLE The FIFA Club Licensing Regulations must be transformed into confederation club licensing regulations, which must then set the minimum criteria to be integrated into national club licensing regulations. Article IMPLEMENTATION AT CONFEDERATION LEVEL Article The implementation of the club licensing system at confederation level includes the following steps: a) existence of a legal basis within the statutes; 9

9 b) the integration of the principles of the FIFA Club Licensing Regulations into confederation club licensing regulations. Article EXISTENCE OF A LEGAL BASIS WITHIN THE STATUTES OF THE CONFEDERATION Article For the implementation of the club licensing system, each confederation must have a legal basis within its statutes that describes the objective of the system and the relevant authority and contains a reference to further, more detailed regulations. Article INTEGRATION OF THE FIFA CLUB LICENSING REGULATIONS INTO CONFEDERATION CLUB LICENSING REGULATIONS Article Each confederation shall include the principles and minimum criteria defined in these regulations in confederation club licensing regulations. Article The FIFA Club Licensing Regulations are structured and worded in such a manner that the confederation can use their full text as a master document. The confederation is free to increase the minimum requirements or to upgrade the criteria established by these regulations for the purposes of entering confederation club competitions. Article Article IMPLEMENTATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL The implementation of the club licensing system at national level includes the following steps and processes: 10

10 a) existence of a legal basis within the statutes; b) establishment of rules regarding sanctions under the national club licensing system; c) integration of the minimum criteria defined in the confederation club licensing regulations into national club licensing regulations, including the exception and accreditation processes; d) decision on the applicability of the licensing system to the licence applicants; e) option for the member association to delegate club licensing responsibilities to an affiliated league. Article EXISTENCE OF A LEGAL BASIS WITHIN THE STATUTES OF THE MEMBER ASSOCIATION Article For the implementation of the club licensing system, each member association must have a legal basis within its statutes that describes the objective of the system and the relevant authority and contains a reference to further, more detailed regulations. Article As an alternative, the club licensing system may also be based on a contract between the club and the member association. Article RULES REGARDING SANCTIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL CLUB LICENSING SYSTEM Article To guarantee an appropriate assessment process the member association shall: a) set up a catalogue of sanctions for the club licensing system (e.g. for nonfulfilment of B criteria). It pertains to the relevant licensing bodies to determine these sanctions against licence applicants/licensees. The catalogue of sanctions may include a caution, a fine and the obligation to submit evidence or fulfil certain conditions by a certain deadline, etc. If the club licensing system also applies to participation in national competitions, the catalogue of sanctions may additionally include the deduction of points, a prohibition on concluding new transfer agreements or players contracts, the obligation to submit some guarantees, etc. Furthermore, the licensor may sanction the club before the start as well as during the season; b) refer to national disciplinary regulations with regard to the violation of the licensing regulations as such (e.g. submission of falsified documents, failure to meet deadlines, sanctions against individuals, etc.). Article INTEGRATION OF THE CONFEDERATION CLUB LICENSING REGULATIONS INTO NATIONAL CLUB LICENSING REGULATIONS Article Each member association shall define the parties involved (licensor, licence applicant, decision-making bodies), their rights and duties, the criteria and the 11

11 necessary processes in accordance with the confederation club licensing regulations for entering confederation club competitions. Article The transformation of the confederation club licensing regulations into national club licensing regulations includes the following processes that require the approval of the confederation: a) exception process and policy, whereby a member association may request exceptions to certain criteria; b) accreditation process, whereby the confederations must approve each national licensing regulations. Both the exception process and accreditation process must be set up by the relevant confederation. The confederation must also set the relevant deadlines. Article The member association is free to increase the minimum requirements or to upgrade the criteria established in the confederation club licensing regulations for the purposes of entering confederation and/or national club competitions. The member association may also introduce additional criteria not included in the confederation club licensing regulations. Where introduced by the member association in their national licensing regulations, any increased minimum requirements, upgraded or additional criteria will apply mutatis mutandis to entry to confederation club competitions. The member association may also adapt the wording of their club licensing regulations according to: a) member associations objectives and priorities; b) the statutes and regulations of the member association; c) national law; d) flexibility given by the confederation. Article DECISION ON THE APPLICABILITY OF THE SYSTEM TO LICENCE APPLICANTS Article The member association must decide to which clubs the system applies. As a minimum, the club licensing system must be implemented in respect of topdivision clubs which qualify for confederation club competitions on sporting merit. It is best practice to implement the club licensing system in respect of all top-division clubs of the member association. Article The member association may also decide to implement the system in respect of participation in both confederation competitions and national competitions (top division and lower divisions). The quality standards would thereby be improved on a broader basis in the national championship as well as in confederation club competitions, and the clubs of the same division would be treated equally. 12

12 Article OPTION FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TO DELEGATE THE CLUB LICENSING SYSTEM TO AN AFFILIATED LEAGUE Article The member association may delegate the club licensing system to an affiliated league subject to the approval of the confederation s executive committee. Article Vis-à-vis FIFA and the confederation, the member association as a member of FIFA and the confederation remains responsible for the proper implementation of the club licensing system, regardless of whether there is a delegation or not. Article 2.3 BODIES OF THE CONFEDERATION The confederation shall indicate the bodies through which the confederation shall act with regard to the club licensing system. 13

13 Article 3 LICENSOR Article 3.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter defines the licensor and the decision-making bodies. Article 3.2 LICENSOR DEFINITION Article WHO IS THE LICENSOR? Article The member association is the licensor. Article The licensor shall govern the licensing system, appoint the corresponding licensing bodies and determine the necessary processes. Article The licensor guarantees the licensee full confidentiality with regard to all information given by the licence applicant during the licensing process. Anyone involved in the licensing process or appointed by the licensor must sign a confidentiality clause before commencing its tasks. Article DECISION-MAKING BODIES Article The licensor shall establish an appropriate administration and appoint qualified staff members. Article The licensor shall establish two decision-making bodies, the names of which it shall determine: a) First-instance body (FIB); b) Appeals body (AB). Article The decision-making bodies shall be independent from each other. They shall receive administrative support from the administration of the licensor. A member must in all cases automatically abstain if there is any doubt as to his/her independence towards the licence applicant or if there is a conflict of interest. In this connection, the independence of a member may not be guaranteed if he/she or any member of his/her family (spouse, children, parents, siblings) is a member, shareholder, business partner, sponsor or consultant, etc. of the licence applicant. The foregoing list is illustrative and not exhaustive. 14

14 Article FIRST-INSTANCE BODY (FIB) Article The FIB shall decide on whether a licence shall be granted to an applicant on the basis of the documents provided and in accordance with the provisions of the national club licensing regulations at the submission deadline set by the licensor. Article Unless provided otherwise by the statutes, the executive committee of the member association shall decide on the composition of this body. Article The licensor shall decide on the quorum of the FIB. The quorum must be a minimum of three members. The chairman shall have the casting vote. Article In the case of a licence refusal, the decision must be put in writing and include the reasoning. Article Members of the FIB may not belong simultaneously to a statutory judicial body of the licensor and must act impartially in the discharge of their duties. Article The licensor may nominate administrative staff of the member association and its affiliated league as members of the FIB, with the exception of the licensing manager, who may not be a member of the FIB. Article The executive committee of the member association shall decide if the members of the FIB are elected or appointed. Article APPEALS BODY (AB) Article The AB shall decide on appeals submitted in writing and make a final and binding decision on whether a licence shall be granted. Article Appeals may only be lodged by a) the licence applicant following a refusal by the FIB; b) the licensor, the competent body of which must be defined (e.g. licensing manager). Article The AB shall make its decision based on the decision of the FIB and all the evidence provided by the licence applicant or licensor with its written request for appeal or within the deadline determined in the appeal procedure by the chairman of the AB. Any further evidence submitted to the AB at a later stage shall not be taken into account. Article In the case of a licence refusal, the decision must be put in writing and include the reasoning. Article The member association shall decide whether the club licensing system comes under the authority of the court of arbitration specified in its statutes. In this 15

15 respect, particular attention shall be paid to the relevant deadlines for entering confederation club competitions. Article Unless otherwise provided by the statutes, the executive committee of the member association shall decide on the composition of the AB. Article The licensor shall decide on the quorum for the decisions of the AB. The quorum must be a minimum of three members. The chairman shall have the casting vote. Article Administrative staff of the member association and its affiliated league may not be members of the AB. Article Members of the AB may not simultaneously be members of any other statutory body or committee of the licensor. Article The executive committee of the member association shall decide if the members of the AB are elected or appointed. Article DECISION-MAKING PROCEDURE Article In the national club licensing regulations or in a specific regulation, the licensor shall define procedural rules with respect to decision-making (cf ). These shall, as a minimum, regulate the following standards: a) deadlines (e.g. submission deadlines, etc.); b) safeguarding the principle of equal treatment; c) representation (e.g. legal representation etc.); d) the right to be heard (e.g. convocation, hearing); e) official language; f) time limit to issue a request (e.g. calculation, compliance, interruption, extension); g) time limit to appeal; h) effect of the appeal; i) type of evidence requested; j) burden of proof (e.g. licence applicant has burden of proof); k) decision (in writing with reasoning, etc); 16

16 l) ground for complaints; m) content and form of pleading; n) deliberation/hearings; o) cost of procedure/administrative fee/deposit. 17

17 Article 4 LICENCE APPLICANT AND LICENCE Article 4.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter defines the legal entity that must apply for the licence and the licence to enter confederation and/or national club competitions. The legal entity applying for a licence is called the licence applicant. Once the licence applicant has been granted a licence by the licensor it becomes a licensee. For the purpose of this chapter only, the term licence applicant is used. Article 4.2 CIRCLE OF LICENCE APPLICANTS Article AUTHORITY TO DEFINE LICENCE APPLICANTS Article The licensor defines the licence applicants according to the statutes and regulations of the member association, the following provisions and in accordance with national law. This may be regulated in the licensing regulations and/or in the statutes of the member association and/or in the respective specific national regulations. Furthermore, FIFA and confederation statutes as well as relevant regulations must also be taken into account (e.g. FIFA Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players). Article 4.3 DEFINITION OF LICENCE APPLICANTS Article PRINCIPLE Article The licence applicant is defined as being the legal entity fully responsible for the football team participating in national and international club competitions and which is a member of the member association. Article The status of a football club (professional, semi-professional or amateur) is not relevant to the issue of a licence. Article The legal form of a football club is not relevant to the issue of the licence according to national statutes and law. Article Only a registered member may apply for/receive a licence. Individuals may not apply for/receive a licence. Article The licence applicant is fully responsible for participation in national and international football competitions as well as the fulfilment of the club licensing criteria. Article The licence applicant is, in particular, responsible for ensuring the following: 18

18 a) that all players are registered with the member association and/or its affiliated league and, if professional players, that they have a written employment contract with the registered member (see articles 2 and 5 of the FIFA Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players); b) that all the compensation paid to the players arising from contractual or legal obligations and all the revenues arising from gate receipts are accounted for in the books of either the registered member; c) that the licence applicant is fully responsible for the football team composed of registered players participating in national and international competitions; d) that the licensor is provided with all necessary information and/or documents relevant to proving that the licensing obligations are fulfilled, as these obligations relate to the sporting, infrastructure, personnel and administrative, legal and financial criteria set out under Articles 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 respectively; e) that the licensor is provided with information on the reporting entity/entities in respect of which sporting, infrastructure, personnel and administrative, legal and financial information are required to be provided. In turn, the licensor must assess whether, in respect of each licence applicant, the selected reporting entity/entities is appropriate for club licensing purposes. Article In addition to the above-mentioned mandatory provisions, it is recommended that the licence applicant: a) be based legally in the territory of the member association and play its home matches only in that territory. The member association may define exceptions, subject to the approval of FIFA and the confederations; b) have the right to use the name and the brands of the club and not change the name of the club for advertising/promotional purposes; c) accept no clauses in contracts with television, sponsors or other commercial partners that could restrict the club in its freedom of decision or affect its management. 19

19 Article 4.4 LICENCE Article PRINCIPLE Article Licenses must be issued according to the provisions of the accredited national club licensing regulations. Article The licensor must issue an invitation to the football clubs to apply for a licence punctually and in writing. The club applying for a licence must submit a written application to the licensor. In this application, the club must, in particular, declare that it shall fulfil the obligations of the licensing system. Article Only clubs which fulfil the criteria set out in the accredited national club licensing regulations by the relevant deadline and that have qualified on the basis of their sporting results may be granted a licence by the member association to enter the confederation/national club competitions of the coming season. Article A licence expires without prior notice at the end of the season for which it was issued. Article A licence may be withdrawn by the national decision-making bodies during a season if: a) for any reason a licensee becomes insolvent and enters into liquidation during the season, as determined by the applicable national law (where a licensee becomes insolvent but enters administration during the season, the licence should not be withdrawn as long as the purpose of the administration is to rescue the club and its business); b) any of the conditions for the issue of a licence are no longer satisfied; or c) the licensee violates any of its obligations under the national club licensing regulations. Article As soon as a licence withdrawal is envisaged, the member association must inform the confederation. Article A licence may not be transferred. Article 4.5 EXTRAORDINARY APPLICATION OF THE CLUB LICENSING SYSTEM FOR ENTERING CONFEDERATION CLUB COMPETITIONS Article PRINCIPLE Article If a club qualifies for a confederation club competition based on its sporting results, but has not undergone a national licensing process at all or has 20

20 undergone a licensing process which is lower/not equivalent to the one applicable to top-division clubs because it belongs to a division other than the top division, the member association of the club concerned may on behalf of such a club request an extraordinary application of the club licensing system. Article In practice, such a club could for example be the winner or the runner-up of the main domestic cup or league cup playing in a division other than the top division. Article Based on such an extraordinary application, the confederation may grant special permission to enter the corresponding club competition, which only applies to that specific applicant and for the season in question. Article PROCEDURE The confederation shall define the relevant procedure. 21

21 Article 5 CORE PROCESS Article 5.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter defines the assessment process (hereafter core process) of the club licensing system. Article PRINCIPLE The core process describes the minimum requirements that the licensor must put in place for the verification of the criteria described in these Club Licensing Regulations (sporting criteria, infrastructure criteria, personnel and administrative criteria, legal criteria and financial criteria) in order to control the issue of a licence to a licence applicant. The core process must, as a minimum, fulfil the following requirements: the deadlines for submission of the licensing documentation must be clearly defined and communicated; the fulfilment of each set of criteria by the licence applicant must be verified by suitably qualified staff acting for the licensor; the decision-making process must be based on a two-step approach (i.e. firstinstance and appeal); the decision-making bodies must fulfil the requirements of qualification, independence and confidentiality; the licensor shall submit to the confederation the list of licensed clubs within the relevant deadline. The confederation shall submit to FIFA the list of licensed clubs upon request by FIFA. 22

22 Article 6 SPORTING CRITERIA Article 6.1 INTRODUCTION For the future of football it is absolutely necessary to have a broad base of footballers available who have the necessary skills and motivation to become professional players. Therefore, it is important to foster youth development programmes and to attract into football more and better-educated boys and girls who not only play the game but are also supporters. Article 6.2 OBJECTIVES The objectives of the sporting criteria are that: licence applicants invest in quality-driven youth development programmes; licence applicants support football education and encourage non-football education of their youth players; license applicants foster medical care of their youth players; license applicants practise fair play on and off the pitch. Article 6.3 BENEFITS FOR CLUBS The first and main advantage of the sporting criteria is to produce football talents for the club s first squad every year. They also normally fit more easily and quickly into the first-team squad since they have partly trained with them, know their tactics and speak the same language. They lack only experience. Under the FIFA transfer system, clubs that have trained players younger than 23 who are then transferred internationally receive financial compensation. Clubs will thus receive a return on their investment if they train young players. Programmes for improving relations and respect between coaches, officials, players and referees support the idea of fair play on and off the pitch. The image of the players and clubs will improve and on the other hand, fines for disciplinary sanctions can be reduced. Article 6.4 CRITERIA Article A CRITERIA No. Grade Description S.01 A APPROVED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME The licence applicant must have a written youth development programme approved by the licensor. This education programme must include at least the 23

23 No. Grade Description following: a) objectives and youth development philosophy; b) organisation of youth sector (organisational chart, bodies involved, relation to licence applicant, youth teams etc.); c) personnel (technical, medical and administrative etc.) and required minimum qualifications; d) infrastructure available for youth sector (training and match facilities, others); e) financial resources (available budget, contribution by licence applicant, players or local community etc.); f) football education programme for the different age groups (playing skills, technical, tactical and physical); g) educational programme on the Laws of the Game; h) medical support for youth players (incl. medical checks). The youth development programme must further show the licence applicant s commitment to and support of mandatory and complementary school education for youth players. S.02 A YOUTH TEAMS The licence applicant must have at least the following youth teams within its legal entity or affiliated to its legal entity: a) at least one youth team within the age range of 15 to 21; b) at least one youth team within the age range of 10 to

24 Article 7 INFRASTRUCTURE CRITERIA Article 7.1 INTRODUCTION The criteria and requirements contained in this section are based mainly on the following documents: The Laws of the Game (IFAB); The FIFA book Football Stadiums Technical Recommendations and Requirements. On the basis of these documents as well as long-standing experience, strict minimum requirements have been established and are described in the following pages. Because the infrastructure criteria should be seen as long-term investments, several recommendations have been introduced which must be taken into consideration if a stadium is to be built or renovated in the short term (one to three years). These recommendations will probably be essential requirements for stadiums one day. Therefore, it would be appreciated if the recommendations were already incorporated into the stadium planning or stadium adaptations began right away in order to improve quality standards on a voluntary basis. The national law also needs to be taken into consideration when establishing the stadium and security requirements. Article 7.2 OBJECTIVES The objectives of the following infrastructure criteria are that: licence applicants have an approved stadium available for playing club competition matches that provides spectators and media and press representatives with a well-equipped, well-appointed and safe and comfortable stadium; licence applicants have suitable training facilities for their players to help them improve their technical skills. Article 7.3 BENEFITS FOR CLUBS It is appreciated that nowadays people only follow events that are attractive, entertaining, and are worth spending a certain amount of money on. A match between two football teams is no longer enough to bring people into a football stadium to watch a match live. Therefore, each club, together with the stadium owner and the local community, should try to provide a stadium that is attractive to visit, safe and secure, easily accessible by car (including parking facilities) and/or public transport, has comfortable seats with a close view of the pitch, clean hospitality facilities and shops, is equipped with hygienic and spacious toilets for both sexes, provides communication installations (loudspeakers and a video screen) and, finally, also offers interesting and exciting football on the pitch. 25

25 Finally, the comfort of a stadium is an important element in terms of having a large crowd to support the teams on the pitch. Article 7.4 CRITERIA Article A CRITERIA No. Grade Description I.01 A STADIUM CERTIFICATION The stadium must be certified. The certification is defined according to national/local law and must include provisions related to safety and an evacuation plan. If such law does not exist, the licensor shall establish the content of the stadium certificate and the procedure in close cooperation with the appropriate body/bodies (e.g. local security authorities, the local hospital, fire brigade, police, etc.). The certificate issued by the appropriate body must not be older than two years at the beginning of the new club competition season I.02 A STADIUM CONTROL ROOM Each stadium must have a control room which ensures an overall view of the inside the stadium in accordance with the provisions of the applicable law or according to the requirements of the licensor, in consultation with the appropriate civil body (e.g. local police, etc.). I.03 A STADIUM CAPACITY The minimum capacity of the stadium shall be (to be determined according to the average demand in the domestic championship). I.04 A STADIUM AVAILABILITY The licence applicant must have a stadium available to host club competitions. Alternative 1: The licence applicant legally owns the stadium. Alternative 2: The licence applicant may provide a written contract with the owner of a stadium or with owners of different stadiums it will use within the territory of the member association. This contract guarantees the use of the stadium for home matches in the coming season for which the club qualifies in sporting terms. I.05 A STADIUM FLOODLIGHTING For evening matches, the stadium must be equipped with floodlight installations which comply with the standard values set by the confederation. I.06 A STADIUM SPECTATOR AREAS Each stand within the stadium must be capable of being divided into separate sectors according to the requirements of the local security authorities or, if no such requirements exist, those of the licensor. 26

26 No. Grade Description I.07 A STADIUM FIRST-AID ROOMS AND STADIUM DOPING-CONTROL ROOM Each stadium must be equipped with first-aid room(s) to care for spectators in need of medical assistance. This must be done according to the local authority regulations, otherwise the licensor shall determine the exact number, size and location of the first-aid room(s) in consultation with the appropriate civil body (e.g. local authorities for security and health). The doping-control room must be near to the teams and referees dressing rooms and inaccessible to the public and the media. I.08 A FIELD OF PLAY SPECIFICATION The playing field must comply with the Laws of the Game and be: Alternative 1: Alternative 2: Natural grass; Artificial turf (according to the FIFA quality standards), subject to the relevant approvals. Article B CRITERIA I.09 B STADIUM GROUND RULES Each stadium must issue stadium ground rules and affix them to the stadium in such a way that the spectators can read them. These rules must provide information on at least the following: - admission rights; - abandonment or postponement of events; - description of prohibitions and penalties, such as entering the field of play, throwing objects, use of foul or abusive language, racist behaviour, etc.; - restrictions with regard to alcohol, fireworks, banners, etc.; - seating rules; - causes for ejection from the ground; - risk analysis specific to the stadium. I.10 B TRAINING FACILITIES AVAILABILITY FOR CLUB The training facilities must be available to the club throughout the year. Alternative 1: Alternative 2: The licence applicant legally owns the training facilities; The licence applicant may provide written contract(s) with the owner(s) of the training facilities. This contract guarantees the use of the training facilities for the coming season for all the club teams which participate in a championship approved by the national/regional association. I.11 B STADIUM SANITARY FACILITIES Each stand must provide sufficient toilet facilities for both sexes in accordance with the local authority regulations or the licensor s requirements. These amenities must include washing facilities with at least cold water and a 27

27 plentiful supply of towels and/or hand dryers. They must be bright, clean and hygienic and a procedure should be established to maintain that condition throughout each event. Article C CRITERIA No. Grade Description I.12 C STADIUM INDIVIDUAL SEATS The stadium must be equipped with individual seats that must be: - fixed (e.g. to the floor); - separate from the others; - comfortable (anatomically formed); - numbered; and - have a backrest of a minimum height of 30cm when measured from the seat. I.13 C STADIUM COVERED SEATS The licensor shall determine the minimum number of individual seats which must be covered. I.14 C STADIUM ACCOMMODATION OF VISITING SUPPORTERS At least 5% (five per cent) of the certified total stadium capacity must be made available for accommodating visiting supporters in a separate area. This provision is subject to decisions of the competent bodies of the licensor and/or the local authority regarding safety and security (high-risk matches, etc.). I.15 C STADIUM SIGNPOSTING AND DIRECTIONS All public direction signs inside and outside the stadium must be presented in internationally understandable pictographic language. Clear, comprehensive signposting must be provided at the stadium approaches and around and throughout the stadium to point the way to the different sectors. I.16 C STADIUM MEDIA AND PRESS FACILITIES There must be suitable media and press facilities (working room and press conference room). The licensor shall determine the content of this provision according to the actual needs of its media, taking into consideration the following recommendations, and in consultation with the appropriate media bodies (e.g. media committee, etc.): - specific media entrance to the stadium or entrances if there is separate access for photographers and TV personnel; - reception desk or room where late accreditation/media information can be collected; - permanent press seats, equipped with desks big enough to accommodate a laptop computer, a notepad and a telephone; - power supply and phone/modem connections at each desk; - media working room accommodating a minimum of persons (unless 28

28 No. Grade Description separate facilities are provided), including photographers (to be determined according to the average demand in the domestic championship); - toilet facilities for both sexes; - press conference room with a suitable number of seats (to be determined according to the average demand in the domestic championship); - press conference room to be equipped with a sound system and split box; - photographers with heavy equipment should have parking spaces available as close to the access point as possible and/or a drop-off point where they can unload equipment from vehicles; - the licensor determines a minimum number of seats in the press box according to the average demand in its domestic championship. I.17 C STADIUM SPECTATORS WITH DISABILITIES The licensor shall set up requirements to accommodate disabled spectators and accompanying persons safely and comfortably. 29

29 Article 8 PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CRITERIA Article 8.1 INTRODUCTION Nowadays a football club is not only a sports club but is also in contact with other parties. The members, the supporters, the media, the sponsors, the suppliers, the commercial partners, the local community and, in some cases, the shareholders of the football club are increasingly involved and interested in the development and results of a football club. Therefore, professional support should be sought from specialists from various economic fields and industries (e.g. marketing, finance, entertainment, media, etc.). They can share their knowledge and experience with today s football clubs, to better satisfy the needs and demands of participants and stakeholders in football, who must be treated as customers. Football clubs already operate in a competitive environment on the sporting side and they are increasingly becoming involved in an economic competition. Clubs must strengthen profitability in the long term. Football clubs should look for new and different sources of revenue in addition to the existing ones (TV, gate receipts, sponsors) in order to be more independent of the income from the sporting success of the club and have a greater chance of functioning as a financially successful entity. In this respect, football clubs need advice from other professionals, experienced, welleducated and innovative people who can bring different skills and know-how into the club and help to satisfy the additional needs and demands of football today. Article 8.2 OBJECTIVES The objectives of the personnel and administrative criteria are that: licence applicants are managed in a professional way; licence applicants have available well-educated, qualified and skilled specialists with a certain know-how and experience; the players of the first and other teams are trained by qualified coaches and supported by the necessary medical staff. 30

30 Article 8.3 BENEFITS FOR CLUBS Professional, well-educated and experienced staff is of key importance to run a football club in an efficient and effective manner. Being professional at all levels and in all functions does not mean that licence applicants must recruit only full-time staff. The focus is on the professional manner in which the persons appointed perform their duties. Each criterion in this chapter is really important for the smooth and successful running of the club, and every club could or should be able to afford these staff in financial terms. The professionalism will also be improved if clubs define clear profiles for these staff, which include the main activities, the main responsibilities (technical, financial and decision-making power, if applicable) and the requirements for the job (education, work experience, technical know-how, IT-skills, human competences, language skills and others including football know-how). It is up to the decision-making body of the licence applicant to look for people who meet the set requirements and to engage those candidates that comply with the defined profile (e.g. full-time, part-time, volunteer). Qualified coaches are the basis for high-quality education within the football teams. In order to achieve this objective, licence applicants need the support of the member association to establish a coach education programme. To improve the football skills of the youth teams as well as the first team squad in all aspects (technically, tactically and physically), trained and qualified coaches are needed. Each youth player who dreams of becoming a professional footballer is entitled to the best-qualified coaches from the youngest age. Other skills (e.g. psychological training, media training, social skills, language skills, etc.) are necessary and must be achieved through specific training organised by the member association with a view to issuing a licence for coaches. This is not only desirable but is a must. 31

31 Article 8.4 CRITERIA Article A CRITERIA No. Grade Description P.01 A CLUB SECRETARIAT The licence applicant must have available office space to run its administration. The required surface of the office(s) and the required technical minimum infrastructure including phone, fax, internet access and must be available. The licence applicant must have appointed the appropriate number of skilled secretarial staff according to its needs to run its daily business. It must also ensure that its office is open to communicate with the licensor and the public. P.02 A GENERAL MANAGER The licence applicant must have appointed a general manager responsible for running its daily business (operative matters). The appointment must have been made by the appropriate body (e.g. executive board) of the licence applicant. P.03 A FINANCE OFFICER The licence applicant must have appointed a qualified finance officer responsible for its financial matters, who can be either a person working in the club s administration or an external partner mandated by the club through a written contract. The appointment must have been made by the appropriate body of the licence applicant. P.04 A SECURITY OFFICER The licence applicant must have appointed a qualified security officer (with specific diploma or experience) responsible for safety and security matters. The appointment must have been made by the appropriate body of the licence applicant. P.05 A MEDICAL DOCTOR AND PHYSIOTHERAPIST The licence applicant must have appointed at least one doctor and one physiotherapist responsible for providing medical support and advice to the first squad as well as doping prevention policy. He must ensure medical support during matches and training. The doctor must be recognised and certified by the appropriate national health authorities and be duly registered with the member association or league. P.06 A HEAD COACH OF FIRST SQUAD The licence applicant must have appointed a head coach responsible for football matters of the first squad. The head coach must: a) hold the highest available coaching licence of the member association of the territory on which the licence applicant is situated or any valid foreign diploma which is equivalent to this one and recognised by the confederation as such; or 32

32 No. Grade Description b) already have started the required education course recognised by the member association that will allow him to achieve the required diploma as defined under a) above; or c) hold a recognition of competence issued by the member association if the head coach has a minimum of five years practical experience as head coach in any top or 2 nd division club in the association. The head coach must be duly registered with the member association or league. The appointment of the head coach must have been made by the appropriate body of the licence applicant. P.07 A HEAD OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME The licence applicant must have appointed a head of youth development programme responsible for running the daily business and the technical aspects of the youth sector. The head of youth development programme must: d) hold the second-highest available coaching licence of the member association of the territory on which the licence applicant is situated; or e) already have started the required education course recognised by the member association that will allow him to achieve the required diploma as defined under a) above; or f) hold a recognition of competence issued by the member association if the head coach has a minimum of two years practical experience as head coach in any top or 2 nd division club in the association. The head of youth development programme must be duly registered with the member association or league. The appointment of the head of youth development programme must have been made by the appropriate body of the licence applicant. P.08 A YOUTH COACHES The licence applicant must have appointed for each mandatory youth team at least one coach responsible for this youth team in all football matters (cf. S.02). The youth coach must hold the minimum qualification as defined by the licensor. He must be duly registered with member association or league. The appointment must have been made by the appropriate body of the licence applicant. P.09 A SAFETY AND SECURITY ORGANISATION STEWARDING The licence applicant must have established a safety and security organisation for home matches through the engagement of stewards. For this purpose, he must: a) employ stewards; or b) conclude a written contract with the stadium owner to provide the stewards; or c) conclude a written contract with an external security company to provide stewards. The licence applicant must provide appropriately qualified stewards (internal or external). 33